What Makes Great Young Water Polo Players Different? Habits That Build Future Champions

When people look at a 17–18 year old who is dominating in the pool, they often say things like:

“They’re just naturally talented.”
“They were always bigger and stronger.”

But if you zoom in on their story, the real difference usually starts much earlier — around ages 10–15. And it’s not just about height, strength, or scoring a ton of goals at age 12.

The players who later become truly successful usually have:

• Cleaner fundamentals

• Better water feel and movement

• Stronger mindset and habits

• A different relationship with learning and coaching

This article breaks down what actually makes a young water polo player “different” in a way that matters long-term — and how parents, coaches, and athletes can build those qualities on purpose.

1. Being “Different” Is Not Just Scoring More at 12

When we talk about a kid who is “special” at early age, most people think about:

• The player who scores 8 goals a game

• The kid who is taller than everyone else

• The one with the hardest shot in the team

But that can be very misleading. At younger ages, physical maturity and size can create a fake picture. A tall 12-year-old can dominate now… and completely disappear later when others catch up.

The real long-term difference is usually much quieter and less flashy:

• Their eggbeater is cleaner and more efficient

• Their hips stay high almost all the time

• They rarely drop the ball on a pass

• They listen to feedback and correct mistakes

• They train properly even when nobody is watching

These are the things that don’t always show up on the scoreboard at age 11–12 — but explode into visible dominance at 16–18.

2. The Foundation: Movement and “Water Feel”

The number one thing that separates future top players early on is how they move in the water.

2.1. Hips Up as a Lifestyle

You can almost always recognize a future high-level player by one simple rule:

Their hips are up. All. The. Time.

Warm-up, passing, six-on-five, defense, even when they’re “just talking” during drills — they float with good body position:

• Chest slightly forward

• Hips up

• Legs constantly working (even gently)

• Head relaxed and stable

Most average players “rest” with hips down. Great players “rest” with good posture. That difference over hundreds of hours per year changes everything — speed, balance, shooting power, and decision-making.

2.2. Eggbeater That Doesn’t Cheat

The future elite kids build an eggbeater that is:

• Smooth – no big splashes, no panicking

• Strong – they can hold position against contact

• Sustainable – they can maintain it for a whole game

They don’t constantly switch to scissor kick every time they’re tired. They use scissor kick when it’s tactically correct (jumping into a shot, quick move) — not because their eggbeater is weak.

2.3. Efficient Swimming Technique

They also treat swimming properly:

• Long strokes

• Good rotation

• High elbow recovery

• Strong kick, not just upper body

They don’t “just swim to get there” — they swim with a technique that will still work at age 18 or 22.

3. Technical Fundamentals: The Quiet Superpower

At young ages, fundamentals are not “cool,” but they are what makes someone unstoppable later.

3.1. Passing and Catching: Non-Negotiable Quality

Future top players almost never:

• Fumble the ball when catching

• Catch with two hands and reset every time

• Throw slow, floating passes in games

Instead, they build a few simple habits early:

• Always show the hand early for receiving

• Catch and stabilize quickly with one hand

• Pass with the ball lifted, body balanced, hips up

• Use the same correct technique in warm-up, practice, and games

They understand a key rule:

There is no such thing as “just warm-up” technique.
How you throw in warm-up is how you throw in the 4th quarter.

3.2. Shooting: Legs, Not Just Arm

Many youth players try to shoot with arm only. The ones who become elite learn early that:

• Power and accuracy come from legs + core + arm, not just shoulder

• Good shot means: strong base, hips high, good rotation, strong follow-through

• They focus on placement and timing, not only how hard they can throw

They practice many different shots, not only “full power cross-cage”:

• Quick release

• Lobs

• Near-side shots

• Fakes and hesitation

• Catch-and-shoot finishes

3.3. Ball Control & Handling

Watch how they handle the ball:

• They don’t slap the ball randomly

• They protect it from defenders with their body

• They can turn, fake, and pass without losing control

All of these are built slowly, with many quality reps in training and at home (wall passing, ball handling drills, etc.).

4. Game Intelligence: Seeing the Game Differently

The next big difference is how they see the game. At a young age, most players are just following the ball. Future top players are already:

• Reading space

• Reading defenders’ hips and hands

• Understanding who is open and why

4.1. On Offense

Early on, they:

• Learn to create space for others, not just themselves

• Time their drives and slides instead of just swimming randomly

• Understand simple principles:

  • Don’t crowd the center

  • Open the passing lanes

  • Move when the ball moves

4.2. On Defense

On defense, they are different because they:

• Know how to play over the hips, not just pull and grab

• Anticipate passes, rather than reacting late

• Learn to angle their body to push attackers to the weak side

• Communicate early (switch, press, drop)

4.3. How They Build Game IQ

They don’t just rely on “playing more games.” They build their IQ by:

• Watching higher-level games (college, senior national teams)

• Rewatching their own games or clips

• Asking coaches questions: “Why did we do this?”, “What should I have done here?”

• Using online water polo courses or video lessons to understand tactics (offense spacing, man-down defense, six-on-five patterns, etc.)

Game intelligence is not magic. It’s a skill trained just like eggbeater or shooting.

5. Mindset: How They Think and React

This might be the biggest separator of all.

5.1. They Are Obsessed With Learning, Not Just Winning

Of course everyone likes to win. But the strong future players care about something even more:

“Did I get better today?”

After practice or games, their questions in their head sound like:

• “What did I learn?”

• “What can I fix for next week?”

• “How can I make this movement cleaner?”

Not just:

• “How many goals did I score?”

• “Did we win?”

5.2. They Are Coachable

Coaches love them because they:

• Listen without arguing

• Try corrections immediately

• Don’t make excuses or blame teammates

• Can handle criticism without shutting down

Being coachable is a huge competitive advantage. It means they constantly unlock more knowledge from their coach and from every training session.

5.3. They Handle Mistakes Differently

Everyone makes mistakes. The future top players:

• Don’t obsess emotionally over one bad play

• Quickly reset and get back into the game

• Use mistakes as information, not as proof they are “bad”

This mindset keeps them progressing year after year instead of quitting mentally when things get hard.

6. Habits Outside the Pool: Where Many Players Fall Behind

At higher levels, almost all players train a lot in the pool. The difference often comes from what they do outside.

6.1. Dryland Training That Matches Their Position

Smart young players (and their parents) slowly build a simple dryland routine:

• Goalkeepers: quick legs, explosiveness, shoulder stability

• Centers: strength, wrestling-style stability, core work

• Drivers/wings: speed, agility, hip mobility, shoulder care

They don’t need to train like bodybuilders. They need water polo-specific movement. This is where good water polo courses or online dryland programs are extremely valuable — they give clear structure and prevent injuries.

6.2. Sleep, Nutrition, Recovery

Being different is not only about how hard you work — it is also how well you recover.

Future top players learn early:

• Going to sleep late every night will show up in the pool

• Drinking enough water matters

• Consistent, balanced food choices give energy for games and training

They don’t have to be perfect, but they are aware. They slowly build better habits than most of their peers.

6.3. Extra Individual Work

Many of them also do small extras that nobody sees:

• 10–15 minutes of band work at home

• A few eggbeater sets in the pool before practice starts

• Wall passing with a ball at home

• Listening to explanations of water polo rules, tactics, or mental tips (videos, podcasts, online courses)

This extra 10–30 minutes, consistently over years, is what separates them in the long run.

7. Role of Parents and Environment

A young player can be special, but the environment can either support that or destroy it.

7.1. What Helpful Parents Do

Parents of successful players usually:

• Support effort and discipline, not only results and goals

• Encourage consistency rather than jumping from sport to sport every few months

• Communicate with coaches respectfully and listen to feedback

• Do not scream at referees or blame teammates from the stands

They create a stable, calm base where the athlete can enjoy the sport, work hard, and stay in it for many years.

7.2. Not Rushing Specialization Too Early

Many great seniors played multiple sports when they were young. It’s okay for a player to:

• Try different sports

• Build general coordination

• Develop love for movement and competition

The key is that when they are in water polo practice, they are present and focused — and as they get older and more serious, their water polo training can become more structured (water polo classes, position-specific water polo courses, etc.).

8. How a “Different” 12-Year-Old Becomes a Dominant 18-Year-Old

All of these small differences stack over time.

Imagine two 12-year-olds:

Player A

• Tall, strong, scores a lot

• Poor eggbeater, hips low

• Throws everything as hard as possible with bad technique

• Doesn’t listen much to coach

• Never does extra work

Player B

• Normal size, not the star scorer yet

• Hips always high, strong base

• Clean passing and catching

• Curious, asks questions, very coachable

• Does 10–20 minutes of extra quality work regularly

At 12, many people think A is “the talent.”
At 16–18, usually B is the one getting attention from top teams and colleges.

Why?

• B’s body is healthy because technique was efficient

• B’s legs and core are strong from years of good eggbeater

• B’s game IQ is high from watching and learning

• Coaches trust B in serious moments because they listen and execute

• B’s fundamentals allow them to adapt to any system or level

This is exactly how “being different at early age” turns into real success later.

9. Simple Weekly Blueprint for Young Players

Here is a simple structure a motivated young player can follow (adapt to age and schedule):

Every Practice (Pool):

• Focus on hips up the entire session

• Treat every pass like a real rep, not a throwaway

• Pick one skill to consciously improve that day (eggbeater height, fake, backstroke on defense, etc.)

2–3x Per Week (Dryland):

• 10–20 minutes of band exercises for shoulders and legs

• Simple core work (planks, dead bug, side planks)

• Position-specific work if possible (goalie jumps, center wrestling, driver quick feet)

2–3x Per Week (At Home / Off the Pool):

• 10–15 minutes of wall passing or ball handling

• Watch 10–20 minutes of high-level water polo or specific online lessons

• Short reflection: What did I learn this week? What can I improve next week?

Weekly Check-In:

• Did I show up with good energy and focus?

• Was I coachable?

• Did I maintain my body position well?

• Did I do my extra work at least twice this week?

Consistency with this kind of schedule over months and years is exactly what makes “different” players.

10. Using Water Polo Courses and Classes to Accelerate Growth

In today’s world, young players don’t have to guess or wait for random tips. There are:

• Online water polo courses that explain fundamentals step-by-step

• Water polo classes (in-person or online) focused on specific skills (eggbeater, shooting, goalie technique, spacing in offense, etc.)

• Video libraries, breakdowns, and guided programs for each position and age group

For players who are serious about becoming high-level athletes, using these resources gives them:

• Clear structure (what to work on first, second, third)

• Position-specific guidance (goalie vs center vs drivers)

• Mental and tactical education they would normally only get at older ages

The combination of good club training + targeted water polo courses + strong personal habits is extremely powerful.

Final Thoughts: Different Is Built, Not Born

The main message is simple:

The “different” young water polo player is not born that way — they are built.

They are built through:

• Daily body position

• Clean fundamentals

• Game intelligence

• Mindset and coachability

• Smart habits on land

• Supportive parents and environment

• And, when possible, structured guidance from quality water polo classes and water polo courses

If you’re a young athlete reading this:
You don’t need to be the biggest or the strongest right now. Start being “different” in the way you move, listen, and train — and let time do the work.

If you’re a parent or coach:
Help your player focus on these long-term qualities, not just short-term goals or how many goals they score in a weekend tournament.

That’s how early “difference” becomes real, long-lasting success in water polo.